Researchers expect sustainability to become more important for companies

Berlin – Since 2018 larger companies in Germany have to provide information on non-financial aspects, such as environmental and climate protection measures and respect for human rights at supplier companies. A survey shows now that the new reporting obligation is taking effect.

A company survey by the Institute for Ecological Economic Research (IÖW) and the corporate initiative Future shows that the new reporting obligation on environmental and human rights aspects is beginning to take effect. 57 out of 100 companies surveyed said that they now deal more systematically than before with the sustainability aspects of their business dealings.

“More and more companies have understood that transparency in environmental and social matters is part of a good standard in corporate communications,” said Christian Lautermann, project manager at IÖW. While many companies were more opposed to compulsory reporting on the matter in the past, about 80 percent of the companies surveyed are now in favour of the reporting obligation.

IÖW and Future will also work together this year in publishing a ranking of the 2018 Sustainability Reports of German companies. The ranking determines which companies account for their social and environmental responsibility better than others. The ranking is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour in Germany and takes place in two separate competitions: In the ranking for large companies, the reports of the 100 largest German companies are examined. The Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) ranking includes reports from companies that have no more than 5,000 employees or no more than EUR 500 million in annual sales.

In the major companies’ ranking, individual criteria such as product responsibility, responsibility in the supply chain or the interests of employees will be weighted for the first time in 2018.